289FB

My 66 has the original 289 C code ratet a 200HP I don't considered it a "Muscle" car but 67's and up those are "Muscle " cars in my opinion

paddy187

I call the 64.5-68 as pony cars, to me they aren't muscle cars, not big enough and can take corners, but they aren't sports cars, the handling is not good enough compared to austin healy's, MGB's, TR6, I belive as standard sports cars should be fast round a race track, i.e. le mans, silverstone nurenburg ring etc. I think the closest differnation is a gran tourismo car or grand tourer, which is meant for fast, motorway cruising.

Twister

I will argue a little on this...a 67 K Code and a 68 R code ARE muscle cars

jes72mustang

OK I am going to throw my .02 in the ring here because we just sort of had a discussion about this at work.

Sports car = 2 seater, high HP to weight ratio, great handling meant to go fast. based on race car designs. Examples: AC/Shelby cobras, MGs, Triumphs, Jaguar XKEs, and of course the American Corvette.

Muscle cars = 2+2 seats or 4 seater, larger cars, big engines, designed for the family adapted to racing through modification some from factory and a lot of aftermarket help. Examples: Mustangs, Camaros, Impalas, firebirds, chargers, challengers, baracudas, on and on.

I do not consider an I-6 mustang or other a Muscle car.

Again that is just my 2 cents to feul the debate.

Volcom66

i say it depends on the mods! a 64 could be a muscle car it just need to have mods. I dont think big or small block changes ifs its a muscle car. "When the 428 Cobra Jet engine became available in '68. It put out 400hp although it received a rating of 335hp." ok thats a big block and there are small block that put out more then that! so its all on what you got that makes it a muscle car. stock looks a 64-68 are not muscle car looking but with some body work they sure can.

65mojoe

Scott H broke it down pretty good if you look at "Stock" Mustangs by the years. AND I agree with Twister, the K and R's are muscle cars.

Now from a restomod standpoint, just like Barry Bonds, Muscle can be artificially added.

ideal_mustangs

I think it all depends on the size. The 71-73 are the true muscle cars IMO. They are big, have huge engines, and they don't really handle as good as a 65 or 66 would becuase of the weight difference.

Twister

actually, the weight difference is only a few hundred pounds and the 71 has a better wheel base, track and height for handleing

MustangPammie

120 hp on a 200ci is not a "muscle" car, so mine is a sports coupe. It was marketed to women as "six and the single girl" as well as a "grocery getter" so to me, it's not muscle.

amchief

My 70 Mach1 is a Muscle Car, but right now its just a bucket of rust awaiting the sheet metal i have to be replaced. Nicknamed "Bad Dreams"